ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has sought plots and funds for construction of state-of-the-art buildings and libraries in the federal and provincial capitals, warning that it will move the Supreme Court if its demand was not fulfilled.

Talking to reporters here Monday, Vice Chairman PBC Senator Farogh Naseem said the PBC was an apex elected body of lawyers established under an act of the parliament but the condition of council offices, which regulates the entry of lawyers into the profession, was pathetic.

He said the prestigious body has three rooms in the Supreme Court building but in provincial headquarters it did not have even a single room.

“This is an insult to the highest statutory body that has a say in appointment and confirmation of judges of the superior courts,” he remarked. He said the country which did not have modern libraries could not progress.

He also asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to issue financial grants to the Pakistan Bar Council so that independent funds could be created to provide free legal aid to the poor litigants and help old, sick and unemployed lawyers.

He stressed that right to life and access to justice were fundamental rights of a citizen. Mr Naseem said absence of funds for free legal aid was a stumbling block in the way of access to justice

He cited the example of the US and the UK where such funds were available for the poor litigants who had a right to engage top lawyer of their choice. “This is an important aspect of access to justice,” he remarked. “We will move the apex court under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution if the state fails to meet its obligation,” he remarked.

The PBC exercises general control over the provincial bar councils.

The main activities of the body are to admit a person fulfilling the requirements of law, as advocates to practice before the Supreme Court, maintain roll of such advocates and remove them from the roll.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2016